Personal Filtration Divice

ABSTRACT

Personal filtration devices for removable mounting on water discharging spouts in the form of bottlenecks, taps, and the like, for dispensing drinking water for personal consumption. The personal filtration devices preferably include a manually operated open-closed slide valve for correspondingly enabling and disabling dispensing drinking water and hermetically sealing an activated carbon filter media in a sealed environment in its closed position for prolonging the carbon filter media&#39;s lifetime. The personal filtration devices are preferably capable of disassembly for rejuvenation purposes, and are removably sealingly slidingly inserted into a sleeve with a resiliently elastic tubular universal adapter for being sealingly slidingly stretched onto water discharging spouts as opposed to screw threaded thereon whereby the universal adapters are capable of being sealingly slidingly stretched onto water discharging spouts of different external diameters.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is the National Phase filing of InternationalApplication Serial No. PCT/IL2006/001030 filed on 6 Sep. 2006, which isincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention pertains to personal filtration devices for dispensingdrinking water for personal consumption.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 5,928,512 to Hatch et al. illustrates and describes twoembodiments of personal filtration devices for mounting on a bottleneck(11) of a flexible thin walled plastic bottle (12). U.S. Pat. No. '512'sFIGS. 1 and 2 show a personal filtration device (10) for deploymentinside a bottleneck (11), and including a filter element (14) in theform of a porous tubular cylindrical block of activated carbonparticles. U.S. Pat. No. '512's FIGS. 3 and 4 show a personal filtrationdevice (41) for externally extending from a bottleneck (11), andincluding a pre-filter element (60) consisting primarily of aparticulate media bed (61), and a pleated paper filter element (66) forserially filtering contaminated water. The personal filtration devices(10) and (41) have threaded connector means for screw threading onto abottleneck (11) (see U.S. Pat. No. '512, Col. 5, lines 3 to 5, and lines36 to 39). The personal filtration devices (10) and (41) have an end cap(37) with a manually operated open-closed slide valve (40) (see U.S.'512, Col. 5, lines 10 to 13). However, the aforesaid personalfiltration devices do not have arrangements for hermetically sealingtheir filter arrangements, thereby shortening their lifetimes due tocontact with water contents, and airborne free radicals. Moreover, theaforesaid personal filtration devices are intended for screw threadmounting on bottlenecks with specific external thread dimensions. Butstandard bottleneck sizes do not exist, thereby precluding the aforesaidpersonal filtration devices for use with other bottles than theirintended ones.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed towards personal filtration devicesfor removable mounting on water discharging spouts in the form ofbottlenecks, taps, army issue canteens, and the like, for dispensingdrinking water for personal consumption. The personal filtration devicespreferably include a manually operated open-closed slide valve similarto U.S. Pat. No. '512 for correspondingly enabling and disablingdispensing drinking water but additionally designed to concomitantlyoperate a sealing arrangement for selectively hermetically sealing anactivated carbon filter media in a sealed environment in the slidevalve's closed position for prolonging the carbon filter media'slifetime. The personal filtration devices are preferably capable ofdisassembly for rejuvenation purposes. Alternatively, the personalfiltration devices can be intended for use for a predetermined timeperiod or filtering a predetermined volume of water, and thereafterdiscarded.

The personal filtration devices can be provided with conventionalthreaded connector means for screw threading onto bottlenecks but theypreferably include a resiliently elastic tubular universal adapter forbeing sealingly slidingly stretched onto a water discharging spout suchthat the personal filtration devices can be mounted on water dischargingspouts of different external dimensions. The universal adapters areformed from suitable resiliently elastic material including inter aliasilicone, rubber, and the like, and are intended to be repeatedlystretched by up to, say, about 5 mm, from their nominal diameter withouttearing or other permanent damage. It is thus envisaged to provideuniversal adapters with nominal internal diameters starting from about24 mm and increasing by about 5 mm increments thereby affording personalfiltration devices suitable for use with bottlenecks typically having anexternal thread diameter of about 25 mm to about 28 mm, army issuecanteens typically having an external thread diameter of about 50 mm,and the like.

The personal filtration devices can be integrally formed with aresiliently elastic tubular universal adapter but the universal adaptersare preferably implemented as discrete sleeves of either a single or adual material construction. Single material sleeves are wholly formedfrom suitable resiliently elastic material for sealingly slidinglystretching onto water discharging spouts. Dual material sleevestypically include a rigid plastic tubular fitment integrally formed witha resiliently elastic tubular universal adapter for sealingly slidinglystretching onto water discharging spouts.

Discrete sleeves can be used with conventional filter devices includinginter alia the aforesaid Hatch et al. filter device, therebyfacilitating their use with water discharging spouts of differentexternal diameters. Also, conventional personal filtration devices forexternally extending from a water discharging spout can be formed with aresiliently elastic tubular universal adapter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to understand the invention and to see how it can be carriedout in practice, preferred embodiments will now be described, by way ofnon-limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawingsin which similar parts are likewise numbered, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a partially dissembled personal filtrationdevice including a discrete sleeve of a single material construction anda discrete filter device;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a FIG. 1's filter device;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross section of FIG. 1's personal filtrationdevice along line A-A in FIG. 1 in its inoperative state;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross section of FIG. 1's personal filtrationdevice along line A-A in FIG. 1 in its operative state for dischargingdrinking water;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross section of a disposable personalfiltration device integrally formed with a rigid plastic adapter forscrew threading on a bottleneck with a particular external threaddiameter; and

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross section of a personal filtration deviceincluding a discrete sleeve of a dual material construction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

FIGS. 1 to 4 show a personal filtration device 10 with a longitudinalaxis 11 and including a discrete tubular sleeve 12, and a filter device13 for use with a conventional flexible thin walled plastic bottle 14having a bottleneck 16 constituting a water discharging spout. Thebottle 14 is typically blow molded of PET or other suitable plastics,and its bottleneck 16 has an external thread diameter D1 in the range ofabout 25 mm to about 28 mm depending on its volume, manufacturer, andthe like. The sleeve 12 has a single material construction and is whollyformed from resilient elastic material such as silicone, rubber, and thelike, and includes a major wide diameter portion 17 for sealinglyslidingly receiving the filter device 13, and a minor narrow diameterportion 18 having a nominal internal diameter D2 of about 24 mm forbeing sealingly slidingly stretched onto the bottleneck 16 for creatinga hermetic seal. The minor narrow diameter portion 18 sealingly fitsover the bottleneck's external screw threads as opposed to tightlymatching same in a conventional screw thread arrangement. The major widediameter portion 17 includes a leading internal annular groove 19 andthe minor narrow diameter portion 18 includes a trailing internalannular flange 21 for sealing purposes.

The filter device 13 includes a filter housing 22 having a stepped crosssection with a leading narrow diameter discharge port 23 for dischargingdrinking water and a trailing tubular frame 24. The frame 24 includes aleading annular flange 26 for sealing insertion into the leadinginternal annular groove 19, a trailing annular flange 27, and four setsof equidistant axially directed external ribs 28. The frame 24 supportsa micronic filtration element 31 surrounding a filter casing 32 with areplaceable cartridge 33 of porous activated carbon filter media 34 forserially filtering contaminated water. The micronic filtration element31 can be implemented by a micronic filtration screen, a series ofclosely packed filter discs, a pleated paper filter element, and thelike. The filter casing 32 has a two part construction including aninverted cup shaped member 36 having a leading perforated end 37, and asolid peripheral wall 38 with a trailing end 39 having axially directedslits 41, and a base 42 for snap fitting onto the cup shaped member'strailing end 39, and having a finger tab 43 for enabling its manualremoval therefrom.

The filter device 13 includes a manually operated filter cap 44 with aleading perforated surface 46 constituted by an open-closed slide valveand slidingly reciprocal on the discharge port 23 between a closedposition for sealing the discharge port 23 (see FIG. 3), and an openposition for dispensing drinking water (see FIG. 4). The filter device13 includes a circular plug 47 with an axially directed upright spindle48 having a free end 49 and four downward depending radial ribs 51. Thespindle's free end 49 is interference fit inserted into a suitabletubular recess 52 formed on filter cap's underside, thereby enablingdisassembly of the filter device 13 for cleaning the micronic filtrationelement 31, and replacement or rejuvenation of the porous activatedcarbon filter media cartridge 33. The closed position of the filter cap44 urges the plug 47 for sealing abutment against the sleeve's flange 21for hermetically sealing the filter media 34 in a sealed environment forprolonging its lifetime (see FIG. 3). The open position of the filtercap 44 urges the plug 47 such that its ribs 51 are aligned with thesleeve's flange 21, thereby enabling flow communication between abottle's interior and the filter device 13 (see FIG. 4).

The use of the personal filtration device is now described withreference to the purification of a plastic soft drink bottle filled withcontaminated water from a river, a puddle, and the like. The user fillsa bottle with contaminated water and drops a chlorine tablet into same.The user waits 10 minutes for treating the contaminated water to removebiological pollutants. The user slidingly stretches the universaladapter onto the bottle's bottleneck to create a hermetic seal, andpulls the filter cap upwards. The user compresses the bottle to forcewater radially inwards through the micronic filtration element forremoving organic and inorganic materials. The water flows through theslits into the filter casing to axially flow through its porousactivated carbon filter media towards the discharge port to removepoisonous metals and other dissolved materials, and also neutralizeschlorine. The now filtered water reaches the discharge port fordischarge therefrom for drinking purposes, food and beveragespreparation purposes, and the like. The user pushes downwards on thefilter cap to seal the filter casing in a sealed environment to prolongthe lifetime of its porous activated carbon filter media.

The user is required to maintain the personal filtration device theearlier between a predetermined time interval and the filtering of apredetermined volume of contaminated water. The user maintains thepersonal filtration device by removing it from a bottle, tap, and thelike, and removing the filter device from the sleeve. The user pulls thefilter cap off the spindle to disassemble the filter device, and removesthe micronic filtration element for cleaning under fresh tap water. Theuser removes the filter cartridge and boils it for about 10 minutes forrejuvenating same. The user re-assembles the personal filtration devicein its inoperative state ready for use.

FIG. 5 shows a disposable personal filtration device 60 similar to thepersonal filtration device 10 but integrally formed with a rigid plasticadapter 61 for screw threading on a bottleneck with a particularexternal thread dimension in a similar manner to the aforesaid Hatch etal. filter device. The rigid plastic adapter 61 has an internal screwthread tightly matching the bottleneck's external screw thread asopposed to the sleeve 12's universal sealing arrangement.

FIG. 6 shows a personal filtration device 70 similar to the personalfiltration device 10 but integrally formed with a tubular sleeve 71 of adual material construction including a rigid plastic tubular fitment 72and a resiliently elastic tubular universal adapter 73 integrally formedtherewith. Alternatively, the tubular sleeve 71 can be implemented as adiscrete item for removable mounting on a filter device using a snap fitconnection, a bayonet connection, and the like.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited numberof embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations,modifications, and other applications of the invention can be madewithin the scope of the appended claims.

1. Personal filtration device for removable mounting on a waterdischarging spout for dispensing drinking water for personalconsumption, the personal filtration device comprising: (a) a filterdevice for sealingly mounting on the water discharging spout andexternally extending therefrom, and having an activated filter componentfor filtering water passing from the water discharging spout to adischarge port for dispensing drinking water; (b) a manually operatedfilter cap for selectively opening and closing said discharge port forcorrespondingly enabling and disabling dispensing drinking water fromsaid discharge port; and (c) a sealing arrangement for selectivelyhermetically sealing said activated filter component in a sealedenvironment.
 2. Personal filtration device according to claim 1 whereinsaid filter cap is constituted by a manually operated open-closed slidevalve for concomitantly operating said sealing arrangement such thatopening said slide valve opens said sealing environment and closing saidslide valve hermetically seals said sealing environment.
 3. Personalfiltration device according to claim 2 wherein said sealing arrangementincludes said filter cap and a circular plug adjacent the waterdischarging spout for hermetically abutting against an internal annularsurface of said filter device in said closed position of said filtercap.
 4. Personal filtration device according to any one of claims 1 to 3wherein said filter device includes a micronic filtration elementsurrounding a porous activated carbon media for serially filteringcontaminated water passing therethrough from the water discharging spoutto said discharge port.
 5. Personal filtration device according to claim4 wherein said filter device includes a filter casing containing saidfilter media and having a solid peripheral wall, and a leadingperforated end, and a trailing perforated end respectively remote fromand adjacent the water discharging spout for guiding water axiallythrough said filter media from said trailing perforated end to saidleading perforated end.
 6. Personal filtration device according to claim5 wherein said filter casing includes a replaceable filter cartridgecontaining said filter media.
 7. Personal filtration device according toany one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said filter device is integrally formedwith a resiliently elastic tubular universal adapter for sealinglyslidingly stretching onto a water discharging spout whereby saiduniversal adapter enables said filter device to be removably sealinglymounted on water discharging spouts of different external diameters. 8.Personal filtration device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 andfurther comprising a discrete tubular sleeve including a resilientlyelastic tubular universal adapter for sealingly slidingly stretchingonto a water discharging spout for removably sealingly mounting saidfilter device thereon whereby said sleeve enables said filter device tobe removably sealingly mounted on water discharging spouts of differentexternal diameters.
 9. Personal filtration device according to claim 8wherein said sleeve has a single material construction.
 10. Personalfiltration device according to claim 8 wherein said sleeve has a dualmaterial construction including a rigid plastic tubular fitmentintegrally formed with said resiliently elastic tubular universaladapter.
 11. A discrete tubular sleeve according to any one of claims 8to
 10. 12. Personal filtration device for removable mounting on a waterdischarging spout for dispensing drinking water for personalconsumption, the personal filtration device comprising: (a) a filterdevice for sealingly mounting on the water discharging spout andexternally extending therefrom, and having a filter component forfiltering water passing from the water discharging spout to a dischargeport for dispensing drinking water; (b) a manually operated filter capfor selectively opening and closing said discharge port for respectivelyenabling and disabling dispensing water from said discharge port; and(c) a resiliently elastic tubular universal adapter for sealinglyslidingly stretching onto a water discharging spout for mounting saidfilter device thereon whereby said universal adapter enables said filterdevice to be removably sealingly mounted on water discharging spouts ofdifferent external diameters.
 13. Personal filtration device accordingto claim 12 and further comprising a discrete tubular sleeve includingsaid resiliently elastic tubular universal adapter.
 14. Personalfiltration device according to claim 13 wherein said sleeve has a singlematerial construction.
 15. Personal filtration device according to claim13 wherein said sleeve has a dual material construction including arigid plastic tubular fitment integrally formed with said resilientlyelastic tubular universal adapter.
 16. Personal filtration deviceaccording to claim 12 wherein said filter device is integrally formedwith said resiliently elastic tubular universal adapter.
 17. Personalfiltration device according to any one of claims 12 to 16 wherein saidfilter device includes an activated filter component for filtering waterpassing from the water discharging spout to said discharge port fordispensing drinking water, and further comprising a sealing arrangementfor hermetically sealing said activated filter component in a sealedenvironment for prolonging its lifetime.
 18. Personal filtration deviceaccording to claim 17 wherein said filter cap is constituted by amanually operated open-closed slide valve for concomitantly operatingsaid sealing arrangement such that opening said slide valve opens saidsealing environment and closing said slide valve hermetically seals saidsealing environment.
 19. Personal filtration device according to claim18 wherein said sealing arrangement includes said filter cap and acircular plug adjacent the water discharging spout for hermeticallyabutting against an internal annular surface of said filter device insaid closed position of said filter cap.
 20. Personal filtration deviceaccording to any one of claims 17 to 19 wherein said filter deviceincludes a micronic filtration element surrounding a porous activatedcarbon media for serially filtering contaminated water passingtherethrough from the water discharging spout to said discharge port.21. Personal filtration device according to claim 20 wherein said filterdevice includes a filter casing containing said filter media and havinga solid peripheral wall, and a leading perforated end, and a trailingperforated end respectively remote from and adjacent the waterdischarging spout for guiding water axially through said filter mediafrom said trailing perforated end to said leading perforated end. 22.Personal filtration device according to claim 21 wherein said filtercasing includes a replaceable filter cartridge containing said filtermedia.
 23. A discrete tubular sleeve according to any one of claims 13to 15.